... Christ on a pogo stick. Even if I could magically do it with half that amount that's still more than I make now in 5 years.

Well, there's always loan forgiveness programs... I'll just have to sign away like 2-4 years of my life to live like Northern Exposure._________________"Worse comes to worst, my people come first, but my tribe lives on every country on earth. Iíll do anything to protect them from hurt, the human race is what I serve." - Baba Brinkman

No, if I'd gone into psychology instead of psychiatry (or anything research- rather than practice-based) I'd have had a tuition waiver, a TA/RA position, and a stipend. Instead, it's a doctorate of psychiatric nursing practice, which is based on the medical school model: tons of money upfront, good paying job at the end (more than I would have made in psychology), various competitive programs you can apply to that will forgive/payoff your loans or pay your tuition upfront (for the more competitive ones) in return for practicing for several years (usually a minimum of 2) in places you probably wouldn't practice normally (hence the Northern Exposure reference).

In reality, I'll only be dependent on loans for all of my expenses for the first year. After that I'll be able to work (that's a long story, and you've probably already stopped reading), and as an RN making alright money. The estimate also includes $20k in "living expenses," and I probably won't need that much as I'll be living rent-free with my mom as long as I can stand that social awkwardness (goodbye love life). Though I am diabetic, so I'll have expenses not on their list (but they do provide health insurance).

TL;DR yes it's a lot of money, no I hopefully won't have to actually pay it all back._________________"Worse comes to worst, my people come first, but my tribe lives on every country on earth. Iíll do anything to protect them from hurt, the human race is what I serve." - Baba Brinkman

Oh that's right. I was thinking you had gotten into that, but when I saw the cost I was wondering if it was a full-on MD program. Still, sounds like there are ways to mitigate the cost and a reasonable expectation to pay off the debt. But... gulp!

Because I only come and post when I have drama, and because I can't bring to discuss it with family:

I must be doing this life thing wrong. I got very politely fired yesterday.

3 weeks ago a colleague reported physical evidence of drug use in a staff only area to me. I knew that if the GM heard about it she'd sack every member of staff on shift that evening so I told her to dispose of the evidence and let me speak to staff individually. I did so. No further evidence of staff drug use in the following 3 weeks because, you know, this stone wards off bears ...

GM found out. Made me fire everyone who had worked that shift then fired me.

Got a reference & two weeks severence pay. And no job. Again. I am such a tucking idiot.

Because I only come and post when I have drama, and because I can't bring to discuss it with family:

I must be doing this life thing wrong. I got very politely fired yesterday.

3 weeks ago a colleague reported physical evidence of drug use in a staff only area to me. I knew that if the GM heard about it she'd sack every member of staff on shift that evening so I told her to dispose of the evidence and let me speak to staff individually. I did so. No further evidence of staff drug use in the following 3 weeks because, you know, this stone wards off bears ...

GM found out. Made me fire everyone who had worked that shift then fired me.

Got a reference & two weeks severence pay. And no job. Again. I am such a tucking idiot.

That's a pretty harsh reaction for a GM in an industry that basically peddles vice._________________

Because I only come and post when I have drama, and because I can't bring to discuss it with family:

I must be doing this life thing wrong. I got very politely fired yesterday.

3 weeks ago a colleague reported physical evidence of drug use in a staff only area to me. I knew that if the GM heard about it she'd sack every member of staff on shift that evening so I told her to dispose of the evidence and let me speak to staff individually. I did so. No further evidence of staff drug use in the following 3 weeks because, you know, this stone wards off bears ...

GM found out. Made me fire everyone who had worked that shift then fired me.

Got a reference & two weeks severence pay. And no job. Again. I am such a tucking idiot.

That's a pretty harsh reaction for a GM in an industry that basically peddles vice.

Yeah what the fuck.

Also no worries gary, once I buy my own bar I'll get you to run it for me. Just wait a few years._________________

So... now I spend my Saturday researching third party loans. Mmm... loan term agreements. Is there any better way to spend a weekend?

stafford only $6K? dang.

have you looked at DirectPLUS? i'm doing both :/

I know, right? And NURSE Corps (who would pay my tuition in exchange for practice) defines "extreme financial need" as $1,000 less than my EFC... But neither they nor the FAFSA take into account medical expenses. Frustrating._________________"Worse comes to worst, my people come first, but my tribe lives on every country on earth. Iíll do anything to protect them from hurt, the human race is what I serve." - Baba Brinkman

Joined: 01 May 2007Posts: 1081Location: in that cool mountain air, on an appalachian trail

Posted: Mon May 06, 2013 9:03 pm Post subject:

Dogen wrote:

No, if I'd gone into psychology instead of psychiatry (or anything research- rather than practice-based) I'd have had a tuition waiver, a TA/RA position, and a stipend. Instead, it's a doctorate of psychiatric nursing practice, which is based on the medical school model: tons of money upfront, good paying job at the end (more than I would have made in psychology), various competitive programs you can apply to that will forgive/payoff your loans or pay your tuition upfront (for the more competitive ones) in return for practicing for several years (usually a minimum of 2) in places you probably wouldn't practice normally (hence the Northern Exposure reference).

In reality, I'll only be dependent on loans for all of my expenses for the first year. After that I'll be able to work (that's a long story, and you've probably already stopped reading), and as an RN making alright money. The estimate also includes $20k in "living expenses," and I probably won't need that much as I'll be living rent-free with my mom as long as I can stand that social awkwardness (goodbye love life). Though I am diabetic, so I'll have expenses not on their list (but they do provide health insurance).

TL;DR yes it's a lot of money, no I hopefully won't have to actually pay it all back.

ah, given your posts I just assumed it was a psychology graduate program. but, yeah, a good portion of my family is in medicine and it's certainly an expensive education. like you said, the only thing that makes it possible for most people is a high salary afterwards. what advantages and job positions are there with getting a doctorate in nursing as opposed to a regular nursing degree? supervisory positions? you mentioned being an RN so I assume a doctorate wouldn't make you a NP?_________________FormerlyGreen_Finn

It is in the upper 70s all week and there is no rain (Which I am told is not the result of global warming, but is a normal weather variation for springtime in the Pacific Northwest.). I want my rain and clouds and flat 50 degree temperature back!

But that's not the horror. Wasps are the horror. In the bathroom. THE BATHROOM!

I've been paranoid ever since I was a kid about wasps being in the toilet bowl, since that happened once. Haven't actually had any incidents since then, so I could happily tell myself it was a fluke, or maybe I misremembered.

(I do think wasps are cool. Just not when they have gotten lost in the place in which I pee)_________________[Stripeypants has enabled lurk mode.]

my personal horror is that i am now starting week 3 of a horrible obnoxious cold. which at this point mostly expresses itself as a cough, and i haven't been able to find anything that helps, so i am awake half the night coughing.

at least it's no longer the body-wracking, about-to-cough-a-lung-up cough. now it's just a body-wracking, dry raspy-throat sort of cough._________________aka: neverscared!